Helmet impact absorption system

ABSTRACT

A helmet impact absorption system is provided. The absorption system will include inner and outer layers that sandwich spaced apart viscoelastic polymer elements in an activated engagement, so upon impact to the outer layer the engaged viscoelastic polymer elements become “activated”, compressing and releasing the majority of the impact force through a dispersion of non-threatening heat. Each inner and outer layer may comprise two separable hemispheric portions secured along an interface for providing further impact absorption through enabling convulsive give between the respective two separable hemispheric portions. The inner layers are dimensioned and adapted to accommodate the head of a human wearer.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 62/510,492, filed 24 May 2017, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to protective headgear and, more particularly, to a helmet impact absorption system.

A forceful impact to the head of those wearing protective headgear (be they an athlete, cyclist, motorcyclist, construction worker, or any other individual wearing headgear) may still cause serious or fatal injuries.

Upon impact, all current inner helmet “safety” liners have an inferior material and structural arrangement when attempting any significant impact force reduction. In the majority of collision situations involving the head area of a helmet-wearing individual, the end results are, occasionally, unnoticeable Traumatic Brain Injuries to primarily debilitating T.B.I. The “protective” material within current protective headgear is, in other words, commonly ineffective and inadequate for high impact p.s.i. scenarios.

As can be seen, there is a need for a helmet impact absorption system embodying Viscoelastic Polymer (VEP) material that is structurally arranged so as to be activated and reinforced upon impact. The VEP material may be tightly secured under the inward-facing surface of an outer layer within the outer shell and liner portion of the helmet, while an inner reinforcement liner securely abuts against an opposing engaging surface of the VEP material, sandwiching it therebetween, forming an activated engagement of the VEP material. Such an innovative structure reinforces and maximizes the effectiveness of this highly engaging VEP material upon impact; thus becoming “activated” to compress and release the majority of the impact force through a dispersion of non-threatening heat. The properties of the engaged VEP is adapted to elastically rebound to its original thickness on any surface.

As a result, the present invention provides a superior safeguard in comparison to current market helmets and add-ons and inserts. The effectiveness of the present invention is embodied in the arrangement the structural systemic components in combination with the physical properties of the VEP—namely, the collaboration of the four-part inner and outer shell reinforcement ‘hemispheric’ portions wherein the inner reinforcement portions are urged snug up against sandwiching the opposing engaging surfaces of VEP material—thereby maximizing the force reduction. Wherein the four-part inner and outer shell reinforcement ‘hemispheric’ portions separability further facilitates the force reduction to the wearer's head. The present invention is also a very lightweight “system”, offering marketability to the general consumers of a high demographic percentile.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a headgear impact absorption system, includes an outer layer comprising an outer hemispheric upper portion and a separate outer hemispheric lower portion; an inner layer comprising an inner hemispheric upper portion and a separate inner hemispheric lower portion; the inner layer dimensioned and adapted to accommodate a head of a human wearer; and a plurality of spaced apart VEP elements sandwiched between the outer and inner layers in an activated engagement.

In another aspect of the present invention, the headgear impact absorption system includes an outer layer comprising an outer hemispheric upper portion and a separate outer hemispheric lower portion; an inner layer comprising an inner hemispheric upper portion and a separate inner hemispheric lower portion, wherein the outer layer is generally coextensive with the inner layer; the inner layer dimensioned and adapted to accommodate a head of a human wearer; said respective outer and inner hemispheric upper and lower portions abutt along an outer and an inner interface respectively; a plurality of bridge connectors spanning the outer and inner interfaces to interconnect the respective abutting hemispheric upper and lower portions; a plurality of spaced apart cubic VEP elements sandwiched between the outer and inner layers in an activated engagement; an outer shell dimensioned and flush symmetrically with any respective helmet's interior design, the outer shell interconnected to an outer surface of the outer layer; and a liner abutting against an inner surface of the outer shell.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a helmet impact absorption system. The absorption system may include inner and outer layers that sandwich spaced apart viscoelastic polymer elements in an activated engagement, so upon impact to the outer layer the engaged viscoelastic polymer elements become “activated”, compressing and releasing the majority of the impact force through a dispersion of non-threatening heat. Each inner and outer layer may comprise two separable hemispheric portions secured along an interface for providing further impact absorption through enabling convulsive give between the respective two separable hemispheric portions. The inner layers are dimensioned and adapted to accommodate the head of a human wearer.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention may include a helmet impact absorption system 50 providing a durable outer shell 10 having an outer surface 102 and an inner surface 104. The outer shell 10 is dimensioned and adapted to the shape of the head of a human wearer. The absorption system 50 may also include a liner 12 with a contoured surface which abuts against the inner surface 104.

It should be understood by those skilled in the art that the use of directional terms such as upper, lower, outer, inner and the like are used in relation to the illustrative embodiments as they are depicted in the figures, the upper direction being toward the top of the corresponding figures, the lower direction being directed toward the bottom of the corresponding figure, the outer direction being directed outside of the helmet-like outer shell in the corresponding figures, and the inner (or inward) direction being directed toward the interior of the helmet-like outer shell in the corresponding figures.

The absorption system 50 provides generally coextensive outer layers 14/18 and inner layers 16/20, respectively, spaced apart so as to sandwich and actively engage a plurality of spaced apart VEP elements 22. The outer layers 14/18 are dimensioned and adapted with a contoured surface which abuts against the liner 12 so as to accommodate the wearer's head. The inner layers 16/20 have a surface generally contoured surface along the lines of the inner layers 16/20, the liner 12, and the outer shell 10 so that the outer layers 14/18 are dimensioned and adapted to receive, circumscribe, and snugly accommodate the wearer's head.

The outer layers 14/18 and inner layers 16/20 each include upper 14, 16 and lower 18, 20 reinforcement portions respectively, wherein each portion 14, 16, 18 and 20 forms a hemispheric shape. So, by way of clarification, the hemispheric upper reinforcement portion 14 and the separate hemispheric lower reinforcement portion 18 form ‘spherical’ the entirety of the outer layers 14/18. The outer reinforcement portions 14 and 18 abut along an outer interface 60, while the inner reinforcement portions 16 and 20 abut along an inner interface 70. Spanning such interfaces 60 and 70 are a plurality of spaced apart bridge connectors 24 so as to secure the respective reinforcement portions 16 and 20 and 14 and 18 together. Each bridge connector 24 may be strips of an impact resistant material, such as ABS plastic, or the like, wherein opposing ends of each strip/bridge connector 24 are fastened to the respective upper and lower portions. The bridge connector 24 allow for major convulsing of the respective hemispheric reinforcement portions 16 and 20 and 14 and 18 at high velocity and impact, thereby aiding the entire system 50 to function more reliably as a whole.

The outer shell 10, the liner 12, and the outer and inner layers 14/18 and 16/20 may also be an impact resistant material, such as ABS plastic, having a minimum 40 gauge to a 60 gauge. The outer shell 10, the liner 12, and the outer and inner layers 14/18 and 16/20 may be secured together by fasteners 26 and 28, such as bolts, nuts, washers, and bolt caps, for instance

The VEP elements 22 may be cubic in shape to maximize surface area engagement (through the ‘engaging surface’ 80), while having a uniform, non-tapering thickness for moment of inertia and buckling purposes, efficiently utilizing the VEP material/elements 22. The VEP material/elements 22 is the “active” material that provides more assurance than current materials through the activated engagement of being sandwiched between the outer and inner layers 14/18 and 16/20. The VEP material/elements 22 may be made to the impact tested durometer parameters, as needed, so as to enhance the efficiency of the entire system. The engaging surfaces 80 of the VEP material/elements 22 may be adhered to their respective outer and inner layers 14/18 and 16/20 with commercial adhesive to realize a major sustainability in extreme impact situations.

In certain embodiments, the helmet impact absorption system 50 may include a visor 30 covering an opening in the upper and lower layers adjacent to the eyes of the human wearer.

A method of using the present invention may include the following. The helmet impact absorption system 50 disclosed above may be provided. A user may wear the helmet impact absorption system 50 when needed so that if in the event of a forceful impact to the head area of the wearer, said absorption system 50 prevents or can greatly reduce the risk of the user sustaining serious brain injuries.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A headgear impact absorption system, comprising: an outer layer comprising an outer hemispheric upper portion and a separate outer hemispheric lower portion; an inner layer comprising an inner hemispheric upper portion and a separate inner hemispheric lower portion; the inner layer dimensioned and adapted to accommodate the head of a human wearer; and a plurality of spaced apart VEP elements sandwiched between the outer and inner layers in an activated engagement.
 2. The headgear impact absorption system of claim 1, wherein the outer layer is generally coextensive with the inner layer,
 3. The headgear impact absorption system of claim 1, wherein said respective outer and inner hemispheric upper and lower portions abutt along an outer and an inner interface respectively,
 4. The headgear impact absorption system of claim 3, further comprising a plurality of bridge connectors spanning the outer and inner interfaces to interconnect the respective abutting hemispheric upper and lower portions.
 5. The headgear impact absorption system of claim 1, wherein each VEP element is displayed as cubic, but may evolve into other efficient shapes.
 6. The headgear impact absorption system of claim 1, further comprising an outer shell dimensioned and contoured to a shape of the said head, the outer shell interconnected to an outer surface of the outer layer.
 7. The headgear impact absorption system of claim 6, further comprising a liner abutting against an inner surface of the outer shell.
 8. A headgear impact absorption system, comprising: an outer layer comprising an outer hemispheric upper portion and, or a separate outer hemispheric lower portion; an inner layer comprising an inner hemispheric upper portion and, or a separate inner hemispheric lower portion, wherein the outer layer is generally coextensive with the inner layer; the inner layer dimensioned and adapted to accommodate the head of a human wearer; said respective outer and inner hemispheric upper and lower portions abutt along an outer and an inner interface respectively; a plurality of bridge connectors spanning the outer and inner interfaces to interconnect the respective abutting hemispheric upper and lower portions; a plurality of spaced apart cubic VEP elements sandwiched between the outer and inner layers in an activated engagement; an outer shell dimensioned and contoured to a shape of said head, the outer shell interconnected to an outer surface of the outer layer; and a liner abutting against an inner surface of the outer shell. 